Women accused of leaving dogs in sweltering cars

Two women were charged this week by Jefferson County sheriffs deputies over pets allegedly left in sweltering vehicles in the parking lot of Walmart Supercenter, 20823 Route 3.

Deputies said Dawn M. Gleason, 47, of 31723 County Route 143, town of Rutland, left her dog in her 2005 Dodge Stratus in extreme heat Tuesday, causing the animal to pant heavily and to appear to be in distress.

According to the police report, the temperature was 85 degrees and the cars windows were not open sufficiently to provide proper ventilation.

Ms. Gleason was charged Tuesday morning with cruelty to animals and was ordered to appear in Watertown Town Court.

In a separate incident, deputies said Teresa A. Warren, 52, Liverpool, left her poodle in her car for more than an hour Thursday, with the vehicles windows only cracked open.

Deputies said that it was 90 degrees outside at the time and that the dog was howling in distress. The conditions could have led to serious physical injury or death for the poodle, they said.

Luckily for the dog, deputies said, the person who called police managed to give the animal some water through the small opening in a window.

Ms. Warren was charged at 5:10 p.m. Thursday under state Agriculture & Markets Law with confinement of companion animals in vehicles: extreme temperatures.

She is to appear in Watertown Town Court.

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